Occupational Therapy Technician

Integrated Care System; London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A health service provider in London is looking for an Occupational Therapy Technician. In this role, you will contribute to recovery-focused interventions under supervision, work collaboratively with service users and their families, and manage therapeutic programs. Ideal candidates should have experience working in health and a strong understanding of mental health issues. This position offers competitive salary and opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience of working in health/social care/teaching settings.
• Experience of working with people with mental health problems.
• Ability to teach practical skills.

Responsibilities

• Support individual and group interventions within the Recovery Hub.
• Collaborate with service users, families, and carers.
• Contribute to a range of therapeutic programmes.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Understanding of mental health issues

Ability to manage risks

Flexibility

Education

Health and Social Care NVQ Level 2 or above

A-C Grade GCSEs in Maths and English

Further education qualification in health/mental health related subject

Job description

Go back South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Occupational Therapy Technician

The closing date is 18 August 2025

Join a dynamic and supportive Occupational Therapy (OT) team delivering recovery-focused, person-centred care to individuals with complex mental health needs and forensic background. Based primarily at Bethlem Royal Hospital, you will work under the supervision of qualified Occupational Therapists to deliver meaningful, occupation-based interventions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support and deliver individual and group interventions within the Recovery Hub.
• Collaborate with service users, families, and carers to promote recovery.
• Take delegated responsibility for clinical areas, ensuring safe and effective practice.
• Contribute to a range of therapeutic programmes including Remotivation, Vocational Skills, Creative Arts, Recovery College, Education and Health Promotion.
• Manage a caseload with increasing autonomy and contribute to service development.

You'll be part of a diverse team including OTs, Technicians, Activity Practitioners, Clinical Exercise Instructors, and Education Tutors. We offer accredited learning through Croydon Adult Learning and Training (CALAT), strong community links, and innovative projects such as Restorative Justice and the Bethlem Gallery. This is a great opportunity to grow your skills in a creative, forward-thinking environment!

Main duties of the job

• To contribute to the development of and provision occupationally focused interventions within River House OT Team under the supervision of a qualified Occupational Therapist.
• To work in collaboration with service users and their families and carers to ensure practice is person centred and recovery focused.
• To work as an integrated member of the multi-disciplinary team.
• To hold delegated responsibility for the operation of work areas during clinical interventions and ensure that health and safety standards are met on a daily basis.
• To take on greater responsibilities and exercise increased autonomy in both 1:1 and group interventions on the wards, as well as in managing a Recovery Hub caseload.

About us

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.

SLaM employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. Currently, provide inpatient care for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the community in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; as well as substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the JD section.

Clinical

To work as an integrated member of the multidisciplinary team by contributing to a programme of therapeutic activities that support a person centred and recovery focused approach to an individuals care and treatment during admission.

To provide individual occupational interventions detailed within an occupationally focused and/or activity-based care plan using specialist technical and engagement skills under the supervision of a qualified Occupational Therapist.

To inform and assist with the development of occupationally focused and/or activity-based care plans.

To independently facilitate 1:1 or group interventions in the Recovery Hub and ward settings in collaboration with the Occupational Therapy service.

To co-facilitate additional group interventions alongside a qualified Occupational Therapist and other members of the multidisciplinary team in line with service need.

To contribute to formal occupationally focused assessments led by the qualified Occupational Therapists using specialist skills to gather data via discussion and observation and provide feedback on these.

To apply specialist knowledge with regards to community opportunities through signposting and providing information that will support discharge planning and enhance a persons recovery opportunities and social inclusion.

To be aware of risk management principles including the ability to safely manage the environment during clinical activity, managing risks identified within an individuals risk assessment, abide by relevant policy and protocol and recognise the need for assessment of mental state and associated risk.

To demonstrate ability to safely carry out restrictive interventions following Seni Lewis Training Programme.

Communication and working relationships

• To form professional relationships with service users including carers and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture
• To support individuals and groups of service users in the use of therapeutic activity
• To report effectively to the team on service user performance and progress
• To provide relevant information, written and oral, for documents relating to service user progress.
• To utilise specialist communication skills with service user and their key supporters (including carers), multidisciplinary team members and other colleagues.

To use a range of communication styles to work with service users and their key supporters (including carers) as required and tailor therapeutic interactions as required.

Documentation

To provide comprehensive written summary within clinical on a persons progress during their admission based on observation and feedback obtained from the service user and others.

To communicate, written and verbally, with external agencies and stakeholders as delegated by the qualified Occupational Therapist.

• To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust Standards.

To maintain up to date clinical records and data on clinical activity aligned to the Trust and Profession specific standards.

Leadership, supervision and appraisal

In line with Trust guidelines to hold a high degree of self-awareness and be able to reflect on own clinical practice and performance via regular supervision, annual appraisal, reflective practice sessions and informal supports as required

To act as a source of support for colleagues, students, sessional workers and volunteers to ensure a safe and effective service is provided.

Training staff and students

To participate in training and development priorities and opportunities specialist within the service as required.

To develop competencies in training and other health and safety requirements aligned to the role, as delegated by the qualified Occupational Therapist or ward teams.

To support the induction, development and training of staff, volunteers and students as requested by the qualified Occupational Therapist or ward teams.

To participate in the induction, training and education of students and other staff in this setting.

To participate in the dissemination and sharing of information and skills with staff, students and volunteers.

To participate in relevant training opportunities.

Service development and delivery

To ensure that areas are well maintained, kept and comply with health and safety guidelines, ensuring the safe use of equipment and storage of materials.

• To provide treatment in an environment where security and safety procedures must be strictly adhered to and ensure that legal restrictions associated with the mental health act are incorporated into activity provision.

To keep up to date with current practice and service business plans and development issues with guidance from the service qualified Occupational Therapist or ward teams.

To undertake relevant activities to meet training objectives identified with your supervisor.

• To engage in supervision and annual appraisal as outlined by the Trust standards.
• To keep a record of your training and development activities.

To participate in clinical governance and quality improvement projects as allocated by the lead Occupational Therapist and ward teams.

To comply with all Trust policies.

• Must be prepared to work some evenings/weekends if required.
• To maintain stock and advise on resources necessary to carry out the job.

Research and development

As part of a team, incorporate up-to-date techniques and ideas of positive practice into your programme

To participate in audit and evaluation activities as agreed with your supervisor.

Training and Development

To undertake mandatory and statutory training as required by Trust policy including computing skills, group skills, food handling and Seni Lewis training skills within 12 months of appointment.

To contribute and commit to undertaking an annual appraisal.

To undertake personal development as identified in Personal Development Plan (PDP).

GENERAL

This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and the post holder may be required to undertake other duties which fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the manager.

• This job description will be reviewed regularly in the light of changing service requirements and any such changes will be discussed with the post holder.

To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.

The post holder is expected to comply with all relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to Equal Opportunities and Confidentiality of Information.

• The post holder is responsible for ensuring that the work that they undertake is conducted in a manner which is safe to themselves and others, and for adhering to the advice and instructions on Health and Safety matters given by Manager(s). If post holders consider that a hazard to Health and Safety exists, it is their responsibility to report this to their manager(s).
• The post holder is expected to comply with the appropriate Code(s) of Conduct associated with this post.
• It is the responsibility of all staff to minimise the Trusts environmental impact by recycling wherever possible, switching off lights, computer monitors and equipment when not in use, minimising water usage and reporting faults promptly.

Person Specification

Experience

• Demonstrable experience of working in health/social care/teaching setting
• Working with people with mental health problems and complex needs
• Experience of providing groups and 1:1 activities
• Experience of working with and/or understanding of Occupational Therapy
• Experience in working with service users with forensic history
• oDemonstrate an understanding of mental health issues

Knowledge

• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people who experience mental health problems.
• Knowledge of the setting and how it supports service user care
• Health & safety and risk awareness
• An understanding of the needs of service users from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds
• IT skills (able to use all Microsoft Office tools).
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to teach practical skills.
• Positive interpersonal skills.
• Ability to develop practical solutions to problems that may arise.
• Understanding of professional conduct

Other

• Willingness to develop and advance own learning
• Personal resilience and the ability to work under pressure
• Able to work flexibly including some evening and weekend work and be open to new ideas and new ways of working

Qualifications

• A-C Grade GCSEs in Maths and English
• Health and Social Care NVQ Level 2 or above, Care Certificate or equivalent
• Evidence of continuing professional and personal development
• Further education qualification in health / mental health related subject
• Any relevant therapies qualification

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

£32,199 to £34,876 a yearper annum inclusive of HCAs